Exodus 21:1-24:18
“These are the rulings you are to present to them …” (Exodus 21:1).
Excerpt:
The Ten Commandments were not the complete instructions of Adonai. He continued to reveal His Torah with mishpatim or rulings. Mishpat is a Hebrew noun which means ‘judgment or rights.’ Mishpat involves the act of sitting as a judge and rendering a verdict so that judicial issues are properly executed.
These rulings reveal more specifics for how Adonai’s people were to judge cases involving slavery, murder, personal attacks against people or animals, stealing, witchcraft, foreigners, and other gods. These rulings outline “loving God and our neighbor as ourselves.”
Hebrew Word Pictures
Rulings (Law) or mishpatim – משפטים – mem, shin, peh, tet, yod, mem
– chaos consumed by the mouth, twisting the mighty finished work
There are blessings for obeying the mishpatim and curses for disobeying (Deuteronomy 28). Until Adonai gave Isra’el His commandments and rulings, they had only taken the first step in the salvation process –– justification. They had put their faith in the blood of the lamb, received deliverance from Egypt, and were immersed as in a mikveh as they walked on dry land through the Red Sea.
Isra’el did nothing to be redeemed from Egypt nor did they earn it by being good people. Grace and mercy is the character of Adonai in the old testament as well as the new. Faith in the blood the lamb, victory over death, forgiveness of sins, and immersion in water are found in both testaments.
Hebrew Word Pictures
Grace (Kindness and Favor) or chen – חן – chet, nun
– protects life
Mercy (Compassion) or rachum – רחום – resh, chet, vav, mem
– highest authority protects and binds chaos
Sanctify (Consecrated, Holy) or kadosh – קדש – kof, dalet, shin
– what is behind the consuming pathway
Faith (Agreement) or emunah – אמונח – alef, mem, vav, nun, hey
– first strength binds chaos and protects life
‘Holiness’ or becoming set-apart to Elohim is the second step of the salvation process –– sanctification. Adonai led the Hebrews to Mount Sinai to meet with them. He had them wash their clothes and prepare themselves to stand in His presence. At the foot of the mountain, the Hebrews, along with the Egyptians who exited Egypt with them, became united into the nation of Isra’el through the instructions or Torah of Adonai .
Through their obedience to Adonai’s Torah, Isra’el would be different from every other nation. They would honor Adonai’s Sabbath, His ‘appointed times,’ and His dietary regulations. They would treat their personal property, slaves and animals with dignity. If they served other gods and idols and assimilated into the cultures around them, they would no longer be recognized as His chosen people, and they would lose His blessing. If they obeyed His Torah, Adonai would bless their food and water. If they listened to His instructions, He would remove their illnesses.
Yeshua turned water into wine to bless a wedding and multiplied fives loaves and two fish in order to feed a multitude. Yeshua healed those who were sick, lame, and leprous. What if Yeshua had rebelled against his Father’s commands? Would the water have changed into wine? Would the loaves and fishes have been multiplied to feed 5000? Yeshua says that if we trust in him, we will not only do the works he did, but even greater ones. Are we doing the same miraculous things or have we become impotent because we have been taught to disregard Adonai’s commands?
The Book of the Covenant
Moshe wrote down all the words of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. He built and altar at the base of Mount Sinai and set up 12 large stones to represent the 12 Tribes of Isra’el. Young men collected burnt offerings and peace offerings from the people. Moshe took half the blood and put it in basins; the other half he splashed against the altar. He took the book of the covenant and read it aloud so that all the people could hear. However, before they even heard the words of the covenant, the Israelites responded, “Everything that Adonai has spoken, we will do and obey” (Exodus 24:7).
“Moshe took the blood of the animals, sprinkled it on the people and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which Adonai has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Exodus 24:8).
This is the third covenant Elohim makes. Noach received the first covenant, Abraham the second, and the nation of Isra’el received the third. This covenant is Adonai’s Torah and was instituted with the sprinkling of blood –– “the blood of the covenant.” This is the first national covenant for Isra’el; however, this covenant doesn’t negate the first two covenants, but builds on them.
For a complete copy of this Torah portion, the readings from the Prophets, gospels, letters, and study questions, please purchase Open My Eyes: Wonders of Torah.
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